Dear Burhan,
Thanks so much for your kind words and appreciation. It was my attempt to encourage readers to just pick up any bike they can afford and make a similar trip happen. I am sure even with a 70cc you can do a trip of the north. Naturally, I would not advise you to ride your bike from Karachi, but instead you can book your bike by train to pindi. And from there you can begin your journey on the 70 cc. You will find all sorts of facilities such as food, fuel, puncture shops, and all things available throughout the northern areas. In fact you will find the people there much more helpful than in Karachi and they will always stop to talk and help in any way that they can.
The roads up north are much more comfortable and beautiful and since you are driving through the mountains you do not have to drive at speeds of 80 kms but more like 40 - 50 and some times even 60 kms because you are driving around mountains.
So I think if you try to just go to Naran you can easily do it on a 70 cc without too much trouble because there are no rough roads and all beautifully paved roads. So there is no need to wait to gather so much money to make such a trip.
But I think if you have already planned the trip for next year after purchasing your 150 then that is best. Plan for a good 3 weeks tour and if you take along a tent which you can get new from Burns Rd for around 1300 which is good for 2 people, you can use that most of the time as its safe to camp anywhere in the north and food and washrooms you will find everywhere. I think you will be glad to do this trip.
We have now finalized 6 people (all relatives ) for our bike tour with three bikes, my 150, another 125 and a third brand new 150 my relative just purchased on Saturday which we have to drive 1,000 kms in the next month for its first warranty check up and tuning, and then get it ready before the end of August for the long journey ahead. We have now planned on shipping the three bikes via train while we drive our own car with six people to Islamabad. We will leave our car in Islamabad and take the bikes from the station, load our stuff and head off to Naran, cross BabuSar Top and head to Astore, Deosai Park, Skardu, Gilgit, Khunjerab Pass, and back to Islamabad by KK highway. The bikes will again be shipped by train as we drive back in the car.
My estimated budget per person is around 18,000 - 22,000 for the entire trip including food, fuel, hotels, jeeps. Of course we will do some camping and some hotel stay where camping may not be an option.
Regards,
Sulaiman
DHA Ph 1, Karachi
